Eyeworld

JUN 2012

EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.

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June 2012 Eyeing continued from page 13 to become involved and to provide financial and PAC support. On the legislative and regulatory side is the uncertainty brought about by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Accountable care organizations and payment for performance have bipartisan con- sensus support and are here to stay. One important reason that ASCRS staunchly opposed PPACA was the creation of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), and we are still advocating for its repeal. Our director of government rela- tions, Nancey McCann, and our government relations committee do an admirable job of educating our membership and advocating on their behalf. On the clinical side, one of the questions that everyone is facing is whether and how to incorporate femtosecond laser technology for cataract surgery. Through its meet- ings, publications, webinars, and discussion groups, ASCRS will con- tinue to provide a balanced forum where we can continue to debate and educate each other about the clinical and financial ramifications of this new technology. EyeWorld: What initiatives would you like to be involved with over the next year? Dr. Chang:We will build on Dr. Holland's initiative to increase the involvement of residents and younger physicians in ASCRS. We are thrilled that more than 180 resi- dents and fellows registered for a special program at our recent Annual Meeting, organized by our ASCRS Resident Education Task Force. I also hope that ASCRS can do more in providing web-based phaco education internationally. With the need to train so many more cataract surgeons around the world, we should try to further leverage the teaching expertise of our member- ship. As an example, I am very excited about Cataract Master, an innovative cognitive cataract simula- tion program developed by Bonnie Henderson [M.D., Boston] and John Loewenstein [M.D., Boston]. Distribution of this web-based learn- ing tool will be through the ASCRS Foundation, in partnership with the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary of Boston. On the legislative front, we will continue to argue for a permanent sustainable growth rate solution, IPAB repeal, U.S. FDA reform, and private contracting provisions that allow greater patient shared billing. While we vigorously oppose opto- metric surgical expansion, we do support integrated M.D./O.D. prac- tice models and appropriate clinical education of O.D.s working for and alongside ophthalmologists. EyeWorld: Can you talk a little about the Global Sight Alliance project? What is it, and why is it important? Dr. Chang: The most common cause of global blindness is cataract, and unfortunately the international backlog is growing at an epidemic rate. There are many effective non- governmental organizations (NGO) worldwide that are making tremen- dous contributions and progress, but these are globally fragmented and most are not known to North Ameri- can ophthalmologists. As an organi- zation, I would like ASCRS to be able to encourage and facilitate the involvement of more of its member- ship in the noble cause of support- ing cataract surgical teaching and training in the developing world. Several years ago, a Michigan oph- thalmologist, Stan Pletcher, M.D., founded Mission Eyes Network (MEN), whose website links volun- teer ophthalmologists with teaching and surgical training opportunities in the developing world. The ASCRS Foundation is collaborating with Dr. Pletcher and MEN in funding a major expansion and evolution of this website into a "one-stop" cen- tralized online portal that networks and links to the most important in- ternational NGOs involved in hu- manitarian cataract surgery. Our tagline is "Uniting efforts to over- come cataract blindness." Geoff Tabin [M.D.] and I have joined Dr. Pletcher in assembling an interna- tional advisory board to guide the direction of this project. We envi- sion an umbrella networking plat- form that can serve many purposes —education of ophthalmologists, patients, and donors; a volunteer registry; a roster (with links) of or- ganizations working on cataract blindness; an online library of rele- vant peer-review studies; a discus- sion forum for individuals who have volunteered or want to volunteer; and a way to highlight and update our community on the great and in- spiring work being done around the world. We hope ASCRS members will visit and bookmark the site, www.globalsight.org. EW Contact information Chang: dceye@earthlink.net Brown* Triple Post Speculum Available In Stainless & Titanium l Unique Blade Design Prevents Lashes From Overlapping The Drape. The Special Central Posts s Prevent Lids And Lashes From Rotating Into The Surgical Field. s Special Fenestrated Blades Improve Exposure & Access To Superior Surgical Approaches By Supporting And Elevating The Middle Of The Lids. s )MPROVES!CCESS 6ISUALIZATION/F4HE3UPERIOR Cornea By Creating An Oval Separation Of The Lids,Preventing Drape Obstruction. s )DEAL&OR !LL !NTERIOR 0OSTERIOR3EGMENT3URGERY s 2EUSABLE !UTOCLAVEABLE -ADE)N4HE53! 'UARANTEED For Life, And Offered On A 30-Day Surgical Evaluation Without Obligation. Contact 800-637-4346 For More Information. 3360 Scherer Drive, Suite B. 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